The Last Exorcism II Fails To Impress Critics

The Last Exorcism II Fails To Impress Critics

Poor Nell Sweetzer. Not only is she found cowering and alone in rural Louisiana but she also has to come to terms with the fact that she is the last surviving member of her family. Oh and not only that, but that last exorcism? Turns out that isn’t going to be the last exorcism, after all. This sequel to the 2010 movie depicts a still-very-much-possessed Nell (played by Ashley Bell) seeking refuge in the city of New Orleans. Seems like a good idea until all those demons start to rear their distinctly ugly heads.

Yet another unnecessary modern horror sequel, trying to cash in on the success of its predecessor, the last Exorcism plays victim to one of the most common pitfalls in modern horror. Described by Dustin Putnam as little more than a “series of moments,” the movie makers have focused on the scary bits and forgotten the rest, with a story that’s all but dead in the water. There’s potential in The Last Exorcism II but it fails to reach it, as the Vulture review explains: “If you watch closely enough, you'll see that somewhere inside The Last Exorcism Part II is a very good thriller - a genuinely unnerving movie about possession - struggling to get out.” 

Watch the trailer for The Last Exorcism Part II

Like many modern horror movies, hell-bent on impressing an audience with its superior visual effects tricks, this movie is reliant on the moments of fright that pepper it, whilst the narrative gets somewhat lost. A rotten 33% score on the Rotten Tomatoes site does not bode well for its success.